Ethical Boundaries
Transcript of Ethical Boundaries
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Ethical Boundaries and Practices
Ethical issues and their implications in healthcare.
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What is ethics?
• Principles of right and wrong.• Questions to consider:–Who should practice ethical behavior?– Is there such a thing as ethical behavior
among friends?
• When was the importance of ethics in health care first recognized?
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Hippocrates
• What do you know about Hippocrates?–Greek–Physician–Lived 2500 years ago–Wrote Hippocratic Oath, which is
still taken by physicians today.
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Codes of Ethics
• Professional associations write codes of ethics.– American Medical Association (Physicians)– American Nurses Association (Nursing)
• Purpose: Set standards of professional conduct that promote the welfare of patients and assure high quality care.
• Check the web to see the professional code of ethics for your future health profession
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AAMA Code of Ethics
• Render service with full respect for the dignity of humanity.
• Respect confidential information obtained through employment.
• Uphold the honor and high principles of the profession.
• Seek to continually improve the knowledge and skills of medical assistants for the benefit of patients and colleagues.
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Ethics and the Law
• Laws are based on ethical principles.• Most laws enforce ethical standards.
– Confidentiality of Patient Information • Ethical standard that has become a legal standard
• Sometimes laws are in conflict with a person’s ethical principles.– Abortion
• Your ethical code may prohibit; law support woman’s right to choose
• Healthcare workers should act in the best interest of patients and support legal standards for patient care.
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Ethics and the Law
• As a future healthcare professional, do you think you will ever be put in a position where your personal ethics are in conflict with the requirements of your profession? – If so, how will you manage it?
• As a healthcare professional, will you be able to disengage your emotions when dealing with ethical conflicts?– Universal concerns
• Infectious Diseases such as HIV/AIDS• Unable to separate yourself from their care as a healthcare provider
• Legally and ethically, they must act professionally when dealing with all patients.
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Guiding Principles
• The upcoming slides provide examples of ethical principles for healthcare workers and the corresponding laws that were created to support them.
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Guiding Principles
1) Preserve life
2) Do good3) Respect
autonomy4) Uphold
justice
5) Be honest6) Be discreet7) Keep
promises8) Do no
harm
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Healthcare Ethics: Euthanasia
• What is it?– Results in death to alleviate suffering
or when there is no hope for recovery.
• Many healthcare professionals feel euthanasia is contrary to their professional ethics.
• Regardless of their beliefs, healthcare workers should follow state laws.
• Oregon only state to legalize
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Healthcare Ethics: Organ Transplants
• Organ donations come at a time of crisis when somebody dies.
• Healthcare workers should ask about donation.
• Illegal to transplant organs without patient or family permission.
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Healthcare Ethics: Organ Transplants
• Who gets the organ?– Handout “You be the Judge”• Mr.N• Ms. L• Mr. Z• Mrs. P
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Healthcare Ethics: Organ Transplants
• Who gets the donated organ?
– Criteria• Likelihood of benefit• Urgency of need• Change in quality of life
(improved?)• Duration of benefit
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Healthcare Ethics: Conception
• IVF – In vitro fertilization• Egg and sperm donation• Surrogates• Fertility drugs•What are the ethical considerations?
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Should there be limits to IVF?
• Should obese people be allowed to have IVF?
• Should a couple be approved for IVF if they both smoke?
• Should a single person who is unemployed be a candidate for IVF?
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Codes of Conduct
• Ethical responsibilities include respecting the cultural, social and ethnic differences of patients and other healthcare workers.
• “Scope of practice” helps define the code of conduct for healthcare workers.
• Performing skills outside the scope of practice is illegal and unethical.
• Ethical codes of conduct are based on moral standards and society’s expectations.
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Ethical Dilemmas
• Advances in health care have created ethical dilemmas for healthcare providers.
• There are no easy answers when addressing ethical dilemmas.
• The question is – what is the responsibility of healthcare providers when addressing ethical dilemmas?
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Ethical Dilemmas• Should family members be allowed to
discontinue life support?• Do parents have a religious right to
refuse life-saving blood transfusions for their child?
• Should people be allowed to sell organs for use in transplant?
• Should human beings be cloned?• What should be done with fertilized
frozen embryos when the parents no longer want them?
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Ethics Committee
• Most hospitals have ethics committees that examine ethical issues related to patient care.
• They can advise patients, families and healthcare providers.
• A hospital ethics committee might decide the best action to take for a terminally ill patient on a respirator.
• An ethics committee might also be asked to pass judgment on the actions of a healthcare provider.
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Professional Practice
1. Use the approved methods when performing procedures.
2. Obtain proper authorization before performing any procedure.
3. Identify the patient.4. Observe all safety precautions.
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Professional Practice
5. Think before you speak and carefully consider everything you say.
6. Accept no tips or personal gifts.7. Immediately tell your supervisor
if you make a mistake.8. Act professionally in everything
you say and do.